Diagnostic tracing conditions

The following table lists the diagnostic tracing conditions you can set. Conditions control the criteria that must be met in order for a tracing entry to be made for a specific diagnostic
tracing type. Most conditions require a value, as noted below. Conditions are stored in the trace_condition column of the
dbo.sa_diagnostic_tracing_level diagnostic table, and may have a corresponding value, such as an amount of time in milliseconds,
stored in the value column. The values in the condition column reflect the settings specified in the Database Tracing Wizard.

Value in the trace_condition column

Description

NONE, or NULL

Records all the tracing data that satisfies the level and scope requirements. Using expensive diagnostic tracing levels (plans,
for example) with this condition for extended time periods is not recommended.

SAMPLE_EVERY

Records tracing data that satisfies the level and scope requirements if more than the specified time interval has elapsed
since the last event was recorded.

Values: This condition takes a positive integer, reflecting time in milliseconds.

ABSOLUTE_COST

Records the statements with cost of execution greater than, or equal to, the specified value.

Values: This condition takes a cost value, specified in milliseconds.

RELATIVE_COST_DIFFERENCE

Records the statements for which the difference between the expected time for execution and the real time for execution is
greater than or equal to the specified value.

Values: This condition takes a cost value specified as a percentage. For example, to log statements that are at least twice
as slow as estimated, specify a value of 200.